1. New Territories landfills extension
The existing three landfills (SENT, NENT and WENT) are anticipated to be exhausted and the Government sought support of the LegCo for extension of the landfills. I expressed my view at the meeting of Public Works Subcommittee that there is no single solution to the waste management dilemma in Hong Kong, and we must pursue a multi-prong approach, covering waste reduction, recycling, reuse, recovery, and proper waste disposal. Besides pressing the administration to mitigate the nuisance of the SENT landfill to residents in Tseung Kwan O, I also raised the question regarding how to solve the traffic nuisance to residents in Tuen Mun, caused by transporting waste. The Government replied that a number of improvement and betterment measures will be implemented to minimize the impact such as by transporting some of the waste via sea route. As the problem of management of municipal solid waste is pressing, we have no time to waste. However, bowed to political pressure, the Government temporarily withdrew the plan to expand the SENT landfill. The other two extension proposals were approved at the meeting of Public Works Subcommittee on 2 July, and would be submitted to the Finance Committee for approval.
2. Elected chairman of the subcommittee in relation with Signboard Control System
For the purpose of introducing the Signboard Control System (SBCS), the Secretary for Development has made the Building (Minor Works) (Amendment) Regulation 2013 and the Buildings Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2012 (Commencement) Notice 2013 to bring the provisions related to the SBCS in the Buildings Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2012 into operation. It is estimated that there are about 120,000 unauthorized signboards in Hong Kong. So the SBCS is introduced to tackle existing unauthorized signboards with every five years safety checking by registered building professionals or registered contractors. A subcommittee was set up to study in details and I was elected the chairman of the subcommittee. It is proposed that the date of 2 September 2013 as the day on which the provisions related to the SBCS and the Amendment Regulation will come into operation.
3. Bills Committee on Product Eco-responsibility (Amendment) Bill 2013
The Bill proposes to extend the charges on plastic shopping bags (PSBs) to all sales of goods by retail. The sellers may retain the charges that have been collected from customers and will not be required to remit the charges to the Government. The Bill also proposes to introduce a fixed penalty system for the offence of failing to charge for PSBs provided at the time of sale concerned or offering any rebate or discount to offset the charge. To this end, a committee was set up to study the Bill in detail and I have joined the Bills Committee. Taking account of the views of the community, some changes are proposed to the existing Levy Scheme such as ban on free distribution of PSBs in retail sales; exclusion of PSB use for food hygiene reasons; and inclusion of flat-top bags under regulation.
4. LegCo Subcommittee visits construction sites on Hong Kong Section of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-HK Express Rail Link
The Subcommittee on Matters Relating to Railways visited the construction sites of the West Kowloon Terminus of the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Link (XRL) and the Shek Yam to Hoi Ting Road tunnel section on June 24 to better understanding the progress of the works. Accompanied by the Under Secretary for Transport and Housing, and the representatives of the MTR Corporation Limited, members of the Subcommittee first visited the construction site of the West Kowloon Terminus of the XRL to know more about the construction work of Terminus's platforms. Members then visited the main tunnel of the XRL to get to know the latest progress of the works.
5. Work of the Urban Renewal Authority
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) briefed LegCo members on its work of urban renewal at the meeting of Panel on Development on 25 June. The URA promulgated its new urban renewal strategy with highlighting a "people first, district-based and public participatory" approach. As at June 2012, URA has carried out or continued to implement a total of 55 development projects that would provide about 19,700 new flats. At the meeting, I relayed appeal of merchants from Kwun Tong to the URA in regard to compensation arrangements in Kwun Tong redevelopment. The URA responded they will review the requests of the merchants and will announce their decision later.
6. e-Government development
The utilisation of e-Government services continued to grow significantly in recent years. According to a recent report, the overall utilisation of e-Government services in 2012 has increased by more than 1.3 times that of 2011 in terms of total number of information searches and electronic transactions. At the meeting of Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting on 10 June, the Government briefed members on its latest progress of e-Government development. I pointed out that Internet of Things (IOT) will be one of major streams in the future development of the Internet. I wonder if the Government has any strategy with IOT development. The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) replied that IOT has been included in the Digital 21 Strategy. In view of technological advancement and rapid development of the local IT industry, the OGCIO has embarked on another comprehensive review on the Digital 21 Strategy, with a view to formulating an updated blueprint for IT development across various economic and social sectors in the coming years.